okay so we all know that eating is the most basic necessity. so its nothing super awesome or anything right? why does my cat get super excited and jump around every time someone opens the fridge or takes out his food? does food cause cats to feel some kind of pleasure or something?
BiPetual
Favorite Answer
It's hard to tell what goes on inside their furry little heads, but it could be related to the fact that they're carnivores. They evolved to go out and catch their own food, which would surely generate some excitement. I have read that they become more active when they're hungry, which could mean that the wild kitty in their brain is getting a little itchy to go out and kill something.
But it could also be that they are just trying to get the food as quickly as possible, and that they see the preparation - getting the food out, filling the bowl, etc. - as just getting in the way of immediate gratification. It might be impatience in addition to excitement.
In multi-cat homes, being a slacker could mean that they don't get as much food. So being excited would also be helpful to them in that situation. Not being excited about food would not be a very good thing in terms of survival for any animal.
Valerie
My cat only does that when I give her a little chicken but not with can food. Does she look thin even though you feed her good? Is she a in door cat. It could be worms if she is always hungry. She probably does it out of boredom if she is a in door cat. All cats have different personalities just like us humans my cat is a mental case. She often growls at things not there and if something is out of place in my house she will stare at that item like it is going to jump out and bite her basically she will not pass it.
Anonymous
Yes! Food consumption releases endorphins in many eukaryote organisms (including humans). It is an evolved trait: certain foods taste really good so we eat them wherever we can find them (like sugars and fats), because they help us to store energy and survive. So the reason your cat goes crazy when it knows you're getting it some food is the same reason people overeat. The food tastes good and releases pleasure-causing hormones (those endorphins) in the body.
?
Your cat is just strange. My cat does not do that.
EMOLOVE(:
because It's hungry maybe?
and Happy?